My Grease Fire

SmokyArkie

Recently I smoked several very large roasting chickens for friends and family. I used the plate setter to prevent scorching the chickens but did not use a drip pan. The chickens were delicious and enjoyed by everyone to the point that we had no leftovers to worry about.

The next time I fired up the BGE the grease which apparently ran off of the plate setter and had accumulated between the firebox and BGE wall ignited. Even though the BGE was closed the temp quickly jumped up to a little over 750 and I had flame coming out of the top of the closed BGE. I shut everything down and waited awhile before opening. On inspection the rear gasket (by the hinge) has moved a little but is still basically intact and I do not see any damage to the BGE. Thank goodness.

From now on I will use a drip pan when I use the plate setter. It was quite a show but all’s well that ends well.
:ohmy:

mnwalleye

Sounds like a good way to clean your egg

SmokyArkie

Is it ok for the BGE to get that hot? Obviously it wasn't wonderful for the gasket but it seems fine otherwise.

Ripnem

They can get to 4 digits without a problem.

Use caution at those temps though.

Zinger

It's fine for your egg to get that hot. In fact, it can get much hotter than 750 with no problems. Your right about the gasket. That kind of heat for sustained periods will fry it.

Where do you live

I'm in Rogers, AR.

mnwalleye

If you still have the orginal gasket, your not using your egg enough.

Grandpas Grub

 
If your egg is flaming out close down or completely close the lower vent and even put the ceramic cap on the egg to put it out.

Flame can not exist without an oxygen source. However, sometimes it is good to burn out the 'gunk' that ends up inside the egg.

The ceramics can well withstand the heats produced by a full load of the lump, however, the steel bands will expand and contract and the felt or Nomex gaskets can at times be damaged with extremely high heats (750° and above).

Glad the chicken cook turned out well.

GG

otisdog

But if you do close it down don't look for a while. Open that sucker up too soon to "see if its out" and you won't believe the fireball. Comes complete with singed arm hair as many of us know first hand

Grandpas Grub

 
Sure enough, make sure the vents are wide open and the cap is off for a short while or you will get a flashback.

GG

ebrooker007

And if you do a really good job sometimes it will get your eye lashes.

Grandpas Grub

 
This is our friend Ross vs flashback.



GG

Little Steven

SmokyArkie,

You want to be careful about shutting down a grease fire too quickly. I would have closed the bottom vent to a 350* range and let it burn off. I have actually seen a daisy blow completely of the egg and fifteen feet in the air from the same thing. BTW it was not me that shut it down and it wasn't at Beli's house on his egg. Just for the record.

Steve

Ripnem

Steve,

Sounds like a neat thing to see. Glad it wasn't your fault.

RRP

don't get over-confident that a drip pan will prevent a grease fire! A poster here named Old Dave nearly burnt his house down while egging bacon and the drip pan with grease caught on fire.

ebrooker007

I don't have any hair or it probably would have looked the same. I did lose my eyelashes and part of my eyebrows.

Little Steven

Adam,

It was pretty neat. Sure glad I had nothing to do with it

Steve

SmokeOrFire

If you use the rutland gasket, both the egg and gasket will gladly go to 1000 and beyond. See below for pros and cons.

Some users go commando without a gasket, but having one helps shut down and provides some padding for hard lid landings (like when you drop it when you get the flashback at 1000!)

http://www.nakedwhiz.com/rutlandgasket/gasket.htm

SmokyArkie

I never thought about a fie ball from the grease. It looks like his glasses may have saved the day by shielding his eyes. Sounds like a little caution is in order the next time I have a grease fire.

SmokyArkie

Thanks for the info about the Rutland gasket. I can see where the padding from the gasket could prevent bigger problems if the lid was shut too hard.

SmokyArkie

I live near Bryant.